Success Stories

Podcaster Rhonel Cinous

Four years after sustaining a C5 injury, Rhonel Cinous is using his podcast to rediscover who he is through conversations with others from the SCI community.

Ramping Up

As a Haitian-American, Rhonel Cinous always wanted to go to Haiti, but when he finally got his opportunity, things did not go as he had hoped. Cinous, a Miami native, went to Haiti in 2016 to promote the morning radio show he hosted and see the country, but on a snorkeling trip during his second day, he broke his neck on his first dive. “I don’t know if I hit a sandbar, but I rolled over my neck and it was like someone hit pause on my life,” he says.

Prior to his injury, Cinous lived a high-paced life: working two jobs, going to events and doing the radio show while remaining extremely social and upbeat the whole time. Now, he found himself lying in bed, waiting for his power chair to be delivered.

“All those activities came to a screeching halt. I was stuck at home in bed and I’m very private, so having people around me 24/7, touching my stuff and touching me was very weird for someone so independent,” he says.

But having all those people around also gave him a sounding board for everything he was feeling and helped him get a grip on his situation. He realized he wouldn’t be able to work or attend events like he used to, but he recognized the pause would give him a chance to re-evaluate who he was. “Slowing down is still helping me figure out who I am and what I want to do with life, and I think I’ve sort of answered it,” says Cinous.

Since his injury, Cinous has always wanted to find his way back to radio. His spot on the morning show on the nation’s only Haitian-American radio station was always open for him — he even guest-hosted occasionally — but being on air at 8 a.m. everyday and maintaining his rehab schedule wasn’t feasible. Without Cinous, the show went another direction, and the station owners eventually canceled it.

The first year of his injury, Cinous realized the challenges of SCI were more mental than physical. Focusing most of his time on physical therapy was fine, until a pressure sore laid him up for another six months. And to make matters worse, he and his girlfriend had split up only months before.

“That had to be my lowest point mentally and emotionally,” says Cinous. “I realized that the person I’d known as Rhonel was changing as I sat alone in my room, and I broke down in tears.”

He sought advice from a psychologist who helped him realize he had to recast himself. Those conversations led Cinous to start his own podcast, Ramp. It. Up!, in which he interviews others with spinal cord injuries and shares lessons from his own journey.

“The podcast gave me an outlet to talk and became a way I could share stuff with other people. Personally, I want to gain as much information as I can about living with a SCI, whether that’s finances, employment, relationships or recreation,” he says. “I’ve been fortunate enough to receive advice from some amazing peer mentors, and I thought I should probably be doing the same thing in my own way.”

Since starting Ramp. It. Up!, he’s already learned so much from those with SCI. “I see my career in podcasting because I love it and whether it becomes a monetary endeavor or not, I want to be able to help my community. And maybe if I help them, I can help myself to further my own independence.”

Rhonel Cinous waterskiing

Support Without Standing in the Way

Rhonel Cinous recounts how a nervous-but-game personal care assistant made all the difference when he wanted to go waterskiing.

“I didn’t tell anyone where we were going. As soon as my care aide realized we were going to the lake at Amelia Earhart Park in Miami, and that this wasn’t typical pool therapy, I had to come clean: ‘I’m not going to lie to you. We’re about to do something crazy. You don’t have to join me, but you’re here to support me.’ She was a bit concerned and worried because I’d gotten hurt in the water and waterskiing was my first water activity since then. She was like, ‘You’re crazy!’ and I said, ‘You are correct, but this sounds like a cool idea.’

My aide was freaking out the whole way, but she was 100% on board. It was really cool and I appreciated that she understood I needed to do that. One, to feel like myself again and two, she didn’t stand in the way of it. She just let me enjoy myself and have fun.“

Rhonel Cinous UFCWhy I Joined United Spinal Association:
It’s invaluable to hear from people going through the same thing and hear they’ve overcome many of the same challenges.

Rolling While Black:
I’ve been looked at as a threat, but now I’m an afterthought — that hurts too. At least when I was a threat, I was relevant.

Best Dating Strategy:
Be willing to put yourself out there. If you’re comfortable with who you are and how you present yourself, people around you will be comfortable.
Rhonel Cinous Tux
Most Pie-in-the-Sky Aspiration:
I’m a huge mixed martial arts fan and one of my dreams is to call a fight or be a color commentator on the side.

Best Advice for Hiring an Attendant:
Get to know them first. Get references from people you may know from therapy or healthcare providers, be forthright and be your own best advocate.

Check out Rhonel’s podcast here.


Membership to United Spinal Association is Free